Role of glycocalyx in cancer

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K07587
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 50010:Tumor biology-related
• Research Institution: Gifu University
• Principal Investigator: Tomita Hiroyuki 岐阜大学, 大学院医学系研究科, 准教授 (50509510)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 岡田 英志 岐阜大学, 医学部附属病院, 准教授 (30402176)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: glycocalyx / cancer

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Conditional knockout mice with a vascular endothelial cell-specific reduction of heparan sulfate, the main component of glycocalyx, were generated (EXT1-VE-CreER mice). Mouse colon cancer cells were transplanted into these mice and tumor formation was observed over time. Compared to wild-type mice, the knockout mice (EXT1-VE-CreER mice) showed an accelerated colon tumor growth rate (although the difference was not statistically significant). These results suggest that a glycocalyx-depleted state in the vascular endothelium in the host is responsible for tumor growth.

Free Research Field

Pathology

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、初めて血管内皮グリコカリックスと癌の関連を調べた研究である。本研究計画には、ヒトでみられる実体を基礎にした構造的研究を発展させるだけでなく、新たな構造物と認識されたグリコカリックスと癌におけるその機能を明らかとし、新たな治療抵抗性のメカニズムの解明とそれに基づく今後のドラッグ・デリバリーの改善や革新が期待できる。また、癌血管とグリコカリックスを結びつけた点は今までになく、オリジナルティがあると考える。